ABC is Florida’s largest professional management association of commercial, industrial and institutional general contractors, specialty contractors, associates and suppliers.
Ranked by the U.S. Congress among the most influential organizations in the country, ABC was founded on and remains committed to our three-fold mission of safety and skills training, government and political affairs, and business development.
Merit Shop Scorecard:
On November 28, ABC released its 2018 Merit Shop Scorecard, an annual state ranking based on policies and programs that encourage open competition, education and job growth, and award construction contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation.
Now in its fourth year, Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard rates state laws, programs, policies and statistics to highlight those that have created the conditions for growth and identify areas where strategic improvements are needed.
Appropriations Update:
Tomorrow, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi are scheduled to meet with President Trump in the hopes of reaching a deal that will fund the remaining government agencies and avoid a partial shutdown. However, the president is demanding $5 billion in funding for his proposed border wall, while House and Senate democrats are opposed, under pressure from progressives who oppose any funding for a wall, and have offered $1.6 billion in “fencing” along the southern border or a continuation of last year’s spending levels for the Department of Homeland Security. The president could see a shutdown as a last ditch effort to get his wall funding before democrats take control of the House in January.
Tax Update:
The House is also working to secure the votes needed to pass a tax bill with technical corrections to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and further delays to taxes under the Affordable Care Act. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady released a draft proposal (attached), which includes some ABC supported provisions such as the 2 year delay in the ACA HIT tax and changes to the tax code to support retirement savings. The proposal also would expand 529 plans for registered apprenticeship programs, which was a provision included in the Chairman’s Tax Reform 2.0.
Lame Duck:
Along with the appropriations and tax bills, lawmakers are also looking to pass a reauthorization of the farm bill and votes on a resolution to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller and bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation—which ABC has expressed support for.
Election Update:
Recent claims of election fraud in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District have called into question the results that gave Republican Mark Harris the win. Democrat Dan McCready rescinded his concession and announced he is preparing for a special election in 2019, which seems likely at this point. Harris has said he is open to a new election if an investigation finds proof of illegal activity.
Current ABC Congressional Issues
Carol Bowen, ABC Chief Lobbyist
3730 Coconut Creek Parkway, Suite 200
Coconut Creek, FL 33066
cbowen@abceastflorida.com
Robert Stuart
Chris Carmody
GrayRobinson
Find ABC Chapters across the nation here.
Visit the ABC of Florida website for more information.
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